Support



Dees., 17, 1935.

R. B. SHEARER Filed Nov. 8, 1954. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT Application November s, 1934, seriall No. 752,155

9 Claims.

This invention relates to supports, and more particularly those which are used in combination with a railroad rail for supporting a display me- Y dium, or target, although not limited thereto. 5v In repairing railroad rails and the like consideration as to safety must be given to the workmen, and requires a warning in the nature of a target to warn the operators and attendants of rolling stock of their presence. Such targets usually comprise a clamp member for attachment to the head of a rail and an upright member which supports a sign. These clamp members are easily loosened by Wind, rail vibration and the like and often fall to the ground unnoticed by the workmen, with attendant jeopardy to their safety. Although this difficulty has been overcome to some extent by utilizing rather complicated clamp members, they require, to erect and dissemble, the use of tools which are easily misplaced, resulting in a considerable Waste of time.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel support particularly for use in combination with a rail and the like, which may be easily and quickly attached by assembling its component elements in a novel manner.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described which is extremely light in weight, easy and cheap to manufacture and one which at the same time will prove very rigid and durable in service.

These and further objects will be apparent after referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device of the invention as connected to a railroad rail.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspectives of the various elements of the device of the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan showing the initial step of applying the device of the invention.

Figure 7 is a plan of the element of Figure 6 after it has been rotated approximately 90 degrees.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the element of Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a plan partly in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a base member of the device of the invention which comprises a substantially rectangular plate. This rectangular Y plate 2 is provided on one of its ends with a downwardly extending clamp member 3 and at its diagonally opposite end with a similar clamp 4. 'I'he clamp members 3 and 4 are spaced apart a. sufficient distance with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plate to provide a clearance space which is at least as wide as the Width of the head of a railroad rail, to the section of which they are made to substantially conform.

The plate 2 is apertured in its substantial midportion as at 5 and provided in alinement there- 5 with, and on its upper surface, with a boss 6 which is internally threaded, as at 'I, ,and having a circumference 8 of hexagonal shape. This boss 6 is rigidly secured to the plate 2 as by Welding, as indicated at 9. While the boss 6 of the device 10 of the invention is shown as comprising substantially a large hexagonal nut, it is to be understood that it may, in practice, be of any shape other than round.

A shaft I0 is adapted to be supported by the boss 15 portion 6 of the plate 2 and is provided on its lower end with a threaded stud-portion I2 and with a hardened extremity I3 which is shown as beingof angular shape. The threaded studportion I2 is preferably secured to the shaft I 0 by welding, as at I3a. The other end of the shaft I0 is squared, as at I4, and provided for a considerable depth with an internal recess I5 Which is likewise square in cross-section.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, the plate 2 is disposed with its longitudinal axis transverse o-f the head I6 of a railroad rail I l with its clamp members 3 and 4 on opposite sides thereof. The plate 2 is then rotated approximately 90 degrees to the position shown in Figure 7, whereon clamps 3 and 4 will be made to engage the side edges and under sides of the head.- I6. The shaft I 0 is then disposed with its threaded stud-portion I 2 in the threads 'I of the boss 6.

In order that the shaft I0 may be rotated with the utmost ease, a novel combined display supporting medium and wrench is provided. This comprises a shaft I 8 which is substantially square in cross-section and having on one of its ends a right angularly extending portion I9. The other end of the shaft I8 is rounded as at 2li, providing a handle or grip portion. The length of theY shaft I8 is sufficient to permit of the attachment of a sign or target 2|, and is preferably flattened to provide a, good bearing area.

The right angular extension I9 on the shaft I8 is disposed in the square bore I5 on the square end I4 of the shaft I 0, as shown in Figure 8, and the rounded grip-portion 2E! turned in such manner as to permit the hardened extremity I3 on the stud portion I2 of the shaft III to make contact with the upper surfacev of the head I6 of the rail I7, thus causing the clamps 3 and 4 to rigidly engage the under surfaces thereof. As shown in Figure 7, it can be readily seen that the plate 2 having the diagonally spaced clamps 3 and 4 is susceptible to displacement from this position. This is prevented by providing a plate 24 which is substantially rectangular in the manner of the p-late 2 and provided on its diagonally opposite edges which are opposite from the edges on the plate 2 carrying the clamps 3 and 4 with downwardly extending legs 25 and 26. The pl'ate 24 is also provided with an aperture 21 in its midportion which conforms substantially to the circumference 8 of the boss-portion 6 of the base member.

As shown in Figure 9, when this plate 24 is superimposed on the plate 2 with its legs 25 and 26 extending downwardly along the side edges of the head I6 of the rail| I1, a locking engagement with the base member 2 .is effected. This prevents the rotative displacement of the base member.

After the shaft I0 has been sufiiciently tightened by the right angular extension I9 of the square shaft I8, the extension is removed and the shaft arranged in such manner that the rounded portion 2D thereof may be disposed in the recess I5 in the square portion I4 of the shaft I0. In this connection it is to be noted that the target or display portion on the square shaft I8 does not extend the entire length of the same, thus providing a short square portion 22 which seats in the square bore I5 in such manner as to resist rotation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device may be rigidly applied with the least possible effort and by the use of no tools other than its component elements.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A support comprising a base member hav-k ing an internally threaded apertured portion, at least one clamp connected to said base member, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having va threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and the surface of the structure to which it is to be connected, and an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrench portion for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media.

2. A support comprising a base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least one clamp connected to said base member, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and the surface of the structure to which it is to be connected, an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrenchportion'for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media, and means for preventing the displacement of said base member.

3. A support comprising a base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least one clamp connected to said base member, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and the surface of the structure to which it is connected, an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a Wrench portion for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media, and means for preventing the displacement of said base member, said last named means having a portion for rigidly engaging said base member and the structure to which it is to be connected.

4. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diag- Vonally opposite points therefor, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to the transverse dimension of said rail and shaped in such manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its'longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal Yaxis thereof, said base member being adapted to be positioned on said rail first with its longitudinal axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately degrees to operatively position the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, and a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith. y

5. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diagonally opposite points thereof, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to the transverse dimension of said rail and shaped in such manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal axis thereof, said base member adapted to be positioned on said rail first with its longitudinal axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately 90 degrees to operatively position the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith, and means for preventing the displacement of said base member.

6. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diagonally opposite points thereof, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to the transverse dimension of said rail and shaped in vsuch manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal axis thereof, said base member being adapted to be positioned on said rail first with its longitudinal 15 axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately 90 degrees to operatively position the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, a shaft a'dapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith, and an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrench portion for engaging said shaft.

7. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diagonally opposite points thereof, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to the transverse dimension of said rail and shaped in such manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal axis thereof, said base member being adapted to be positioned on said rail first with its longitudinal axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately 90 degrees to operatively position the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith, means for preventing displacement of Said base member, and an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrench portion for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media.

8. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diagonally opposite points thereof, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to the transverse dimension of said rail and shaped in such manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal axis thereof, said base member being adapted to be positioned on said rail firstwith its longitudinal axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately 90 degrees to operatively position `the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, a shaft adapted to be supported by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as: to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith, means for preventing displacement of said base member, an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrench portion for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media, and means for preventing the displacement of said base member.

9. In combination with a rail or the like, an upright member including a substantially rectangular base member having an internally threaded apertured portion, at least two clamp members formed integral with said base member at diagonally opposite points thereof, said clamp members being spaced longitudinally of said base member a distance at least equal to thetransverse dimension of said rail and shaped in such manner as to encompass at least a portion of the same when said base member is positioned with its longitudinal axis paralleling the longitudinal axis thereof, said base member being adapted to be positioned on said rail rst with its longitudinal axis transversely thereof and then turned approximately 90 degrees to operatively position the same on said rail with its clamp members in encompassing position, a shaft adapted to be supported.

by said base member, said shaft having a threaded portion adapted for engagement with the internally threaded apertured portion of said base member and said rail in such manner as to bring said clamp members into rigid contact therewith, means for preventing displacement of said base member, an element adapted to be connected to said shaft remote from its threaded portion, said element having a wrench portion for engaging said shaft and a portion adapted for the connection of display media, and means for preventing the displacement of said base member, said last named means having a portion adapted for rigid engagement with said base member.

RAYMOND B. SHEARER. 

